Women have been encouraged to get skills to help them contribute to the economy, close the gender gap.
Speaking during the second edition of the annual Women Economic Empowerment Forum at Mestil Hotel, Kampala, Anne Juuko, the Eastern African regional Head of Global Markets for Standard Bank Group said there is need to bridge the gap for women if they are to break barriers.
“This is the future. When we talk about bridging the gap these are things we must not just talk about but rather do something about to . We must bridge the skills gap. Finding your space and making your contribution doesn’t come on the suit you wear and what you look like but what you know. What value you add. That is what the people want,” Juuko said.
“If you are an empty tin, you will be reduced to just a statistical number when they say, we have some women on the board. We must bridge the skills gap.Until we have bridged the skills gap in the new emerging skills, we are setting ourselves for a regression. Even the success we have reached might be erased.”
The outgoing Uganda Bankers Association chairperson, Sarah Arapta said women constitute more than 51% of the total number of 000 in the banking sector.
“The banking industry has close to 51% of employees being ladies but that is more at a foundation stage but when you go up the leadership pyramid, you notice the numbers reduce at the top,” Arapta said.
“We only have close to 24% of ladies sitting at chief executive levels and 31% at management committee level. At foundation levels, women have the necessary skills and necessary professions but they are just not climbing the ladder to the top as quick as we want them.We believe this forum will give the women a platform to enhances their skills and gain the necessary skills and ensure they address any societal norms or any related imposter syndromes that prevent them from aspiring to get to the top of their careers.”
